The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-10-26
TENNESSEE RESOURCES.
TALK ABOUT tHH SOIL AND MINER.
ALssoF THE STATE.
Emigration from the Great West, and
Inquiries Pouring In from Northern
Capitalists premium Wheat speci-
mens-A spIe ndid Map.

Maj. B. M. Hord, the commissioner OF |
agriculture, was found Monday up to his |
elbows in work. In reply to an inquiry |
from Nahville American reporter, the |
obliging comhfssoncr stated that he was |
just sending out the last checks in pay
ment OF the premiums which he had offered
to the various counties for excellence in
the production of wheat.
"The competing specimens are sent in
to us when the crop is harvested. We are
thus enabled TO scatter the very best of
seed wheat. We send wheat that we have
received from East Tennessee into West
Tennessee, and vice versa. There isnospec-
ulation as 10 what IL will do, for its
worth has been thoroughly proven by its
being OF such u superior quality as to be
entered for premium. We will begin TO
receive the specimens OF corn in answer TO
our premium offers about the LIST OF De-
cember, by which time this crop shall
have been gathered from the fields. We
will send out this seed corn TO various por-
tons Of the State during next February
and March. The total appropriation
made by the Legislature to run this de-
partment, exclusive Of the salary Of the
commissioner, is about 5000, which is a
somewhat smaller amount than was for
mcriy appropriated for this purpose. A
great portion Of this amount il expended
in premiums for the best agricultural pro-
ductions in each of the counties.
IL am trying. to save a sufficient amount
OF money TO publish map Of the State
which will cost about -, 900. This will be
geological and agricultural map COM
bined. II will represent the geological for
nations and mineral resources Of each
county In the State. Below the margin Of
\ the map and directly under each grand di-
vision will I've given full and complete
statement OF the soil, the mineral and ag-
ricultural productions Of each county, the
area Of tillable land, the population, tax
able property, school facilities, churches,
railroads and all such information that
will contribute 10 make the map superior
| TO all other works OF similar character
which have been gotten out in the past. |
| hope TO have IL ready by the list Of Jan
uary. II will admit OF being folded. and
| will be sent out TO capitalists and others in
| tcrcstcd in the extent Of the wonderful re-
sources Of Tennessee, the importance Of
which arr rs yet but dimly compchendcd
by the people.
| "Pcrhnps YOU will not believe It," re-
marked the commissioner. "but II is a fact
that railroad surveyors can be- found ut
worl, in almost every county in East Ten
ncsscc. Northern capitalists are prospect
! ing through the State with n view Ia con-
siruciing new lines OF railway and are
| having routes soTvcycd in various dircc-
tons, which thcs7will follow II they finally
conclude to push those roads To compile
! ton"
How do you find inquiry about Ten
ncsscc2'
at is increasing MI the time"
"Frum what section of the country do
most Of these applications for informa-
ton come"
They come mainly from the north
west"
sis Il not strange that the inhabitants oi
40 rich AN agricultural section should en-
terrain view OF coming here TO Tcnnes-
scc?' -,s.
~ great many Of them claim that the
| the winters there are too cold and long
and the summers too short. There has
also been n great deal Of complaint there
for the last year or two from the disastrous
droughts which have prevailed among
| them"
"Do YOU get many letters from northern
capitalists regarding the mineral resources
Of the State"
eyes. a great many. but many Of the
capitalists who write for information and
statistics regarding our mineral resources
are Interested, not ~ much in desire 10
invest their own capital here ~ 10 secure
an option on certain lands and then have
Others invest their money in them"
"Do the people who write 10 YOU for in
formation dcsir a. invest Ia mineral lands
mainly3'
"a great many of them do, but when
they SCI the line agricultural lands along
the Cumberland river further down, they
very often determine a. engage In ngricull-
ural pursuits. The world seems nj last %
be realizing that We have magnificent
country. believe the Scquaichic valley,
In East Tennessee il the most favored NJ
giun ON the continent. With liz valleys M
fertile IN they can he, provisions can be
raised In abundance 10 supply the demands
of men who shall Soon bc engaged In I'M
cafihing the boundlcss TREASURES oi coal
and iron which NJ vet lie buried there he
yond the vision. An industry there which
Is yet In its swaddling clothes will soon he
shown with oil it, grand and mex haustiblc
| possibilities 10 an outside world by the
flames from innumrmblc furnaces which
shall light up that favored region in every
direction"
TnE srArE uNpFRpR lINgp.
Several Gentlemen VEN discussing Ten.
ncsscc ~ an agricultural State, IN which
one of them said II believe that most OF
the State will he underlmincd within q
few ycaG When that II done ~ good
farming land will b. had in this State ~
| can bp found.
"Ncar Morrow, q, my home, began the
manufacture OF tiling several ycan ago and
friends told me that WIS simply throwing
away my money, because the land IN that
section did not require any artificial as.
sisiancc. AZ fint could not sell the tile To
farmers. and then proposed to put Il in my.
self aud take my pay out NJ the excess In
crops The parties would agrcc upon q
certain Yield Der acr', and il was usually n
strong estimate. Any Increase u consc.
uucnr over this was to be- declared the
result II iilint and entitled Ia certain
proportion. When the iir.t crop was gath.
cred had thcrc farmers come TO me and
ask how much n cost Ia put In the thing
Upon being informed that the total OK.
pcnsc was frbm - 10 Slb per acre. they
wanted Ia pay that amount and rule me
out IL the partnership sue.
cccdcd by such means Ia establishing the
merits Of Undertaking. aud received more
| orders than could Ill.,